Early Storylines Emerging Ahead of the 2015 Australian Open
The first Grand Slam of the new year is right around the corner, leaving the next few weeks as valuable preparation time.
In Doha, Brisbane and Sydney, the top players in the world will look to build momentum before the Australian Open. These warm-up tournaments will play a key role as they hone their games.
Though the 2015 season is barely underway, there have already been several notable developments to monitor.
Andy Murray, looking to put a disappointing 2014 behind him, opened eyes with a stellar performance in Abu Dhabi.
Injuries marred last year for Rafael Nadal, but as he tries to reclaim his spot at the top the game, he'll have to shake off early-season rust.
Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic, both dealing with their own ailments, were forced to skip Brisbane, throwing their Australian Open participation in doubt.
On the women's side, Jelena Jankovic dropped some surprising news, while Sloane Stephens announced a change which will impact her on the court.
The following slideshow will examine these storylines emerging on the ATP and WTA tours. These factors will play a role in not only deciding who walks away from Melbourne as champion but could also chart the course for the rest of the season.
Sloane Stephens Hires New Coach
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As Sloane Stephens attempts to erase the memory of her poor 2014, she'll have a new voice to mentor her.
Stephens recently announced she'll be working with Nick Saviano, who guided Eugenie Bouchard in her breakout 2014 campaign. Saviano will now attempt to revive the once-promising American's game.
After being hailed as a potential successor to Serena Williams, Stephens took a major step backwards last season, failing to advance past the fourth round at any of the Grand Slams and stumbling to a 21-20 record.
Those results included a first-round loss at Wimbledon and a second-round exit at the French Open, and her world ranking nosedived to No. 37. She lacked the consistency and mental fortitude which carried her to the 2013 Australian Open semifinals.
But Stephens needs to put those struggles behind her and move forward.
Saviano, who worked with and molded Bouchard for the last eight years, could be a crucial hire.
The two already have a tennis history together, and a return to her roots may be a wise move for Stephens. Last year, Saviano's wisdom helped carry Bouchard to the Wimbledon final and the No. 5 ranking. Now, he'll turn his attention to reigniting his new pupil's potential.
Rafael Nadal Looks Rusty in Debut
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As Rafael Nadal's body broke down last year, so did his aura of invincibility.
His back famously gave out during a loss to Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open final. The injury plagued him for the rest of 2014, forcing him to undergo stem cell treatment.
Nadal also hurt his wrist after Wimbledon and skipped Toronto, Cincinnati and the U.S. Open. Not long after he made his return last fall, he contracted appendicitis and once again went under the knife. He couldn't even compete at the Paris Masters or World Tour Finals.
After five months of limited activity, Nadal was eager to make a fresh start in 2015. He received a harsh dose of reality in Abu Dhabi.
Andy Murray thrashed a rusty Nadal 6-2, 6-0 at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. The Spaniard looked out of sorts against his foe, spraying shots and throwing away a dozen break points.
He didn't seem too worried about the result, rebounding in his next match to beat Wawrinka. Still, Nadal has plenty of work left to do in order to get his game back to his lofty standards.
As he heads to Doha for his final Australian Open tuneup, the next two weeks will be crucial for Nadal's chances at the year's first Grand Slam tournament.
Marin Cilic Nurses Shoulder Injury
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U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic's string of bad luck continues.
After walking away from New York with his maiden Slam, Cilic's 2014 fizzled to a close. The Croatian captured the Kremlin Cup in October but was dominated by Andy Murray in the Beijing quarterfinals and lost his opening-round match in Shanghai to Ivo Karlovic.
Cilic began experiencing shoulder pain last fall which contributed to the Karlovic loss and forced him to withdraw from the Paris Masters. When he returned at the World Tour Finals, Cilic couldn't compete at his best level, winning only one set combined in his three round-robin matches.
The injury has yet to fully heal, and Cilic had to withdraw from this week's tournament in Brisbane. As he races to recover and regain his fitness, Cilic may have to sit out the Australian Open.
It would be a crippling setback. He's defending only a third-round result from last year, but a withdrawal would wipe away the momentum he built in New York. Without the opportunity to earn extra rankings points, Cilic's chance to qualify again for the year-end finals would take a major hit.
For a player so reliant on his power serve and groundstrokes, Cilic needs his shoulder to recover. If the injury continues to linger, it could derail his 2015 campaign.
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Jelena Jankovic Considered Retirement
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Jelena Jankovic offered eye-opening information in Brisbane: She came close to retiring at the end of 2014.
The 29-year-old Serbian revealed that a severe back injury suffered last fall almost forced her into a premature exit from the game. The pain not only kept her bedridden but drained her fitness. Unsure of her ability to compete again, she contemplated walking away.
"I thought this maybe could be the end of my career," she told Tennis.com's Matt Cronin. "It was really bad. Not sick. Just when you are injured and you have a bad back injury, you're thinking maybe you're never going to be able to play again at a high level."
Jankovic, the 2008 U.S. Open runner-up, didn't give up. She fought through the pain and finally made her return to the court in Brisbane. She lost to Ajla Tomljanovic in her first match back, but her return to action marked an important milestone.
Though she admits her game and fitness aren't where they need to be, Jankovic is thrilled just to be able to play again. With a new lease on her tennis life, Jankovic could enjoy a late-career renaissance.
Juan Martin del Potro Delays Comeback
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Juan Martin del Potro's long-awaited return keeps getting delayed.
The 2009 U.S. Open champion announced he would miss the Brisbane International to deal with a left wrist for which injury he underwent surgery last spring. He spent most of last year on the shelf recovering but expected to be ready at the start of 2015.
Reports surfaced that Del Potro was still unable to hit two-handed backhands. If true, it represents a deflating progress report for the Argentine. By missing Brisbane, it now seems doubtful he'll be ready in time for the Australian Open.
As his ranking plummets because of inactivity, it's tough to project when Del Potro will finally hit the court. A wrist injury is something he can't rush back from. When he does return, it could take him a while to recapture the form which once struck fear into his opponents. Gaining back confidence in his own health may take even longer.
If Del Potro is unable to go in Melbourne, men's tennis will once again be without its most punishing hitter.
Andy Murray Builds Momentum in Abu Dhabi
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While Rafael Nadal struggled in Abu Dhabi, Andy Murray flourished.
The sixth-ranked Scot outlasted a tough charge from Feliciano Lopez in an opening-round 7-6 (1), 5-7, 6-4 win. In his next match, Murray pulverized Nadal in a straight-sets romp. He showed no mercy for the Spaniard, who was making his return from a long injury layoff.
Though Murray complained of shoulder soreness after the win, scans revealed no serious issues. He caught another break when Novak Djokovic withdrew from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship final with an illness.
Abu Dhabi is just an exhibition tournament, but lifting a trophy is something Murray absolutely needed. He struggled last year in his return from back surgery, never achieving the results or form which carried him to the 2013 Wimbledon title. He simply looked unsure of himself for much of 2014.
With the start of the Australian Open near, Murray will travel to Melbourne with something he didn't have enough of last year: confidence.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com and WTATennis.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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